About Us

The Eurofighter Typhoon consortium brings together the brightest minds in European aerospace in order to create a world class weapon system.

Eurofighter Typhoon is built on the strength of 4 European nations: UK; Germany; Italy and Spain, and their leading aerospace and defence companies. This partnership is unrivalled allowing equal access to shared manufacturing, development and the creation of long-lasting political and industrial relations.

Eurofighter Typhoon assembly line

How Eurofighter Typhoon operates

Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH is made up of the major aerospace companies from the four Eurofighter Typhoon partner nations.

While Eurofighter Typhoon co-ordinates the programme the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) acts as the single point of contact for customers, governments and the partner companies.

NATO / NETMA acts as the single point of contact for customers, governments and the partner companies.

Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH co-ordinates the design, production and upgrade of the aircraft.

Every day our aircraft are protecting the skies in Europe, the Middle East and even in the Southern hemisphere. They are on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Eurofighter Typhoon has become the backbone of the Air Forces in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria and Saudi Arabia. When the chips are down, air chiefs want an aircraft that is versatile, reliable, resilient and cost-effective. Eurofighter Typhoon fulfills all of these requirements and the operational experiences gained during these flying hours have proven it.

100K+

Employees

Germany

25,000 jobs

United Kingdom

40,000 jobs

Spain

22,000 jobs

Italy

24,000 jobs

400

Tier one suppliers

Our History

Eurofighter Typhoon is Europe’s largest military programme, with the four founding nations – Germany, Spain, United Kingdom and Italy – all using the aircraft in their own air forces. Upgradeability and flexibility was at the core of the specification to ensure that the platform could be used highly effectively by all air forces providing unrivalled global partnership.

The construction of the first Eurofighter Typhoon prototypes began in 1989 and it was agreed that each of the four parent nations would host the production line and final assembly for the components of the aircraft it was responsible for: Warton for BAE Systems, Manching for EADS Germany, Turin for Leonardo – Aircraft Division and Getafe for EADS CASA.

In 1994, the Chiefs of Air Staff of Germany, Spain, UK and Italy all agreed on their advanced aircraft requirements, with DA1 and DA2 Eurofighter Typhoons making their first test flights that same year. By 1996, the nations had agreed on the workshare production, and a year later the 500th test flight took place in Manching, Germany. Over the late 1990s and early 2000s the aircraft undertook extensive environmental, weapon firing, in-flight fueling and supersonic speed tests.

Between 2003 and 2005 the Eurofighter Typhoon was introduced into service across the 4 core nation's Air Forces. During this period aircraft received the defensive aids sub system (DASS), the multinfunctional information and distribution system (MIDS), initial direct voice input (DVI) and sensor fusion systems.

In 2005, the UK signed an understanding with Saudi Arabia that Eurofighter Typhoon would replace the Saudi Tornados. In 2006 the aircraft was operational and patrolling the skies of Italy during the Winter Olympics. The Austrian Air Force (Luftstreitkräfte) received its first Eurofighter Typhoon in 2007, with Saudi Arabia receiving its first aircraft in 2008.

A year later, the 4 core nations of the founding consortium received the second tranche of aircraft, which undertook a unique advanced medium range Air-to-Air missile (AMRAAM) firing trial. The objective was to fire a missile while the radar was in passive mode, demonstrating a key stealth capability. Also in that year, it was established that the aircraft would receive upgrades every two years and major hardware upgrades every four years. By 2010, the aircraft featured an advanced helmet-mounted symbology system (HMSS).

The Eurofighter Typhoon began combat missions in Libya on 21 March 2011 as part of the United Nations’ Odyssey Dawn operation. On deployment RAF Typhoons carried Enhanced Paveway II bombs and totalled 3,000 flying hours and over 600 sorties during a six month period on Operation Ellamy.

In November 2011, the 300th aircraft was delivered to the Spanish Air Force.
In December 2012, a contract for the supply of 12 Typhoon aircraft to the Sultanate of Oman was signed.
In 2013, contracts were signed for the Meteor integration and Phase 2 Enhancements (P2E). In the same year, the 400th Eurofighter was delivered to the German Air Force.

During 2014, the P1E upgrade entered into service, the Storm Shadow integration contract was signed as well as a contract for the development of Captor-E (E-Scan) radar for Typhoon.
In Feb. 2015, the Phase 3 Enhancements (P3E) contract was signed during the IDEX Defence Exhibition and 2015 also saw RAF Typhoons performing numerous engagements over Syria and Iraq.
In April 2016, a contract was signed for the supply of 28 Typhoon aircraft for the State of Kuwait. 2016 also saw a P2E upgrade enter into service.

Present

The battle-proven Eurofighter Typhoon is the world’s most advanced new generation swing-role combat
aircraft available on the market and is in successful operation in six nations: Germany, Italy,
Spain, United Kingdom, Austria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Royal Air Force of Oman is the
Eurofighter Typhoon's seventh customer, having commissioned 12 Eurofighter Typhoons. Deliveries have now commenced in Oman.
In April 2016, a contract was signed for the supply of 28 Typhoon aircraft for the State of Kuwait.
And, on 10th December 2017, it was announced that the Government of Qatar and BAE Systems entered into a contract for the supply of 24 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

Taken together, these will keep Eurofighter Typhoon at the leading edge of swing-role combat aircraft technology.

Customers

More than 500 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft have been successfully delivered to seven countries: Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Austria, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

With units operating worldwide, the Eurofighter Typhoon fleet completed over 400,000 flying hours with unparalleled operational statistics from Europe to the South Atlantic and the Middle East.

Royal Air Force, United Kingdom

The RAF received its first operational squadrons at Coningsby, Lincolnshire in 2004, with a subsequent squadron at Leuchars, Fife in 2008. The RAF is the biggest Eurofighter Typhoon customer with the 100th aircraft delivered to No 1 (Fighter) Squadron at RAF Leuchars in January 2013. The UK is a key member of the Eurofighter Typhoon consortium.

Luftwaffe, Germany

The first Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft were accepted by the Luftwaffe in 2003. Three units operate the Eurofighter Typhoon in Germany; they are called Tactical Air Wings. Germany hosts the Eurofighter Typhoon organisation and is a key member of the consortium.

Aeronautica Militare, Italy

Italy is a key member of the Eurofighter Typhoon consortium. The 18th Gruppo based at Trapani Air Force Base (AFB) in Sicily, Italy, became the 20th squadron to operate Eurofighter Typhoon in November 2012. It joins squadrons in Grosseto and Gioia del Colle. The Italian Air Force uses the Eurofighter Typhoon as the main nation's asset for air defence and coalition missions.

Ejercito del Aire, Spain

Spain is a key member of the Eurofighter Typhoon consortium and received its first aircraft in 2003. By February 2010 the aircraft had achieved over 10,000 hours in operation.

Luftstreitkräfte, Austria

Austria saw the first sale of Eurofighter Typhoon outside of the four consortium member states, and since July 2007 the 15 Austrian jets have accumulated more than 5,000 flying hours. Austria now operates the world’s most advanced swing-role combat aircraft securing and defending Austrian air space.

Royal Saudi Air Force

In 2006 Saudi Arabia agreed to purchase 72 Eurofighter Typhoons.

Royal Air Force of Oman

In 2012 the Eurofighter community welcomes Oman as a new member to join the international defence programme.

Kuwait Air Force

In 2016, signature of the contract to supply 28 Eurofighter Typhoon to the State of Kuwait.

Qatar Air Force

In 2017 Government of Qatar and BAE Systems have entered into a contract for the supply of 24 Eurofighter Typhoons.